Overview & Reviews

Chevrolet sells an impressively wide range of vehicles, from subcompact hatchbacks to huge vans and SUVs. If you're looking for a reasonably priced vehicle, odds are that Chevy will have something to fit your needs.

Chevrolet got its start in 1911. After William C. Durant had been ousted from General Motors, he joined forces with Swiss-born racecar driver Louis Chevrolet to found the Chevrolet Motor Car Company. The company's first offering was the Classic Six. Introduced in 1912, this five-passenger touring sedan could top 65 mph, fast for the time. Chevrolet's storied bowtie logo -- reportedly inspired by the wallpaper of a Paris hotel room that Durant stayed at -- made its first appearance in 1914.

By 1918, Chevrolet's profitability allowed Durant to purchase enough shares in GM to regain control. Chevrolet became another division of GM, and was its largest volume division by the mid-1920s. By 1927, Chevrolet outsold rival Ford, with sales in excess of 1 million units.

In the mid-1930s Chevrolet introduced independent front suspension, which provided a smoother ride over the rough roads of the day. The 1940s saw continued success with affordable coupes, sedans and pickup trucks catering to American families, farmers and businessmen.

By the mid-1950s, Chevrolet, GM's entry-level division, had added a V8 engine, power steering and brakes, power windows and air-conditioning to its list of available features, allowing luxury for those on a tighter budget. Around this time the iconic Bel Air model -- available in coupe, sedan, convertible and wagon body styles -- proved very popular. The company introduced its alluring Corvette in 1953; the vehicle was the first mass-produced car with a fiberglass body.

The 1960s saw the unveiling of the popular, air-cooled Corvair compact, which held the distinction of being the first domestic production car with all-around independent suspension. That decade also witnessed the launch of the compact Nova, the midsize Chevelle and the sporty Camaro, the latter Chevrolet's answer to the wildly successful Ford Mustang. The Camaro proved an instant hit, comprising 10 percent of Chevrolet's total sales in 1967, its first year of production.

In the 1970s, Chevy responded to changing preferences by introducing small cars like the Vega and the Chevette, and by downsizing larger models such as the Caprice and Malibu. The company combated the market domination of foreign nameplates in the 1980s by rolling out the Cavalier. By the end of that decade, trucks and SUVs had started to become increasingly popular with the general consumer, and the brand's mid- and full-size models continue to this day to be some of the most popular on the road.

The '90s and the early 2000s saw the company raising the performance bar with its Corvette (notably the Z06 and, later, ZR1 variants) and reincarnated Impala SS. Chevrolet's Silverado pickup truck and Tahoe/Suburban SUVs continued to be hits as well. By 2010, the Camaro had returned to the lineup after a seven-year hiatus.

Modern times have seen Chevrolet make significant improvements in its small and midsize car models and introduce the Volt plug-in hybrid. The latter provides a nearly 40-mile range on electric power alone, and adds to the company's already well-rounded lineup of cars, trucks and SUVs. Though today's marketplace is very demanding, Chevrolet seems poised to remain a power player through its affordable and innovative vehicles.

User Reviews:

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  H.D. 8.1 liter with 5 speed allision - 2001 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By truckman - March 9 - 6:53 pm

  stops better and rides better, and is quiter. than previous model.

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  Happy Birthday, Baby - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By medinamalibu - March 5 - 9:35 am

  My Maxx just turned six years old with 61k on the dial. I feel like Im spoiling it with new tires so soon after replacing the battery, front brake rotors, and front ball joints. The DIC threw a "Power Steering" message the day the battery lost its cranking power, but not since. At five years, the drivers seat developed an amazing squeak, so I learned how to remove the seat and grease the mounts. I deemed one rear skylight shade a loss after a $130+ estimate for replacement, which I indirectly referenced in my three-year update. The Maxx is comfortable and maneuverable, and hasnt given me much of any trouble outside of wear items. Some of them are annoying, and some are rather expensive.

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  Piston Slap a real bummer - 2000 Chevrolet Silverado 2500
  By DaveD - March 4 - 10:00 am

  Have owned only Chevy trucks since 1972. This is the last one. Truck was great until it lost the oil pump at about 20,000 miles. No big deal there. At 25,000 it started to knock when it was first started up. Actual problem is the infamous piston slap problem. Dealer (Sir Walter Chevy in Raleigh) wouldnt even look at it. They gave me TSB #01-06-01-028 that basically said it wasnt a problem and sent me on my way. Now at 29,000 miles it lasts for 5 minutes on startup. Had to search the internet to find out there was a extended warranty on the motor for free. Meanwhile no one will buy the piece of junk from me because of the problem. Its Dodge hemi time.

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  My SuperSport - 2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By SummerSS - March 4 - 10:00 am

  The Monte Carlo is a good deal for the money. I like the spacious interior. I am going to college next year and the large amount of space is a big plus! I own a SS with the high sport appearance package and it is wonderful! Not only does it look great, but it drives great too! My only problem has been the motor in my passenger side window going out.

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  Nice car! - 2005 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By nissianjeff - March 3 - 3:10 pm

  Looks good, inside and out. Love the light Gold color! Stereo sounds great! Comfy ride, in town or on Freeway. I did however have an issue with the headlights not working at night, while the day running lights DID still work. It needed a new multi function switch. Rather pricy part! The read tail light lens are getting full of hair line cracks in em too. That dont look to good, will have to replce soon I recon? Good milage! Friends all like it too. Good cold duel control AC, nice! Power everything! The fuel gage now is acting a lil squirlly. Dont always read right. Im being told it may need a whole new instrument cluster. Also told, thats NOT cheap either! All in all though, love this car!

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  Spare Tire - 2013 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By crabber63 - February 29 - 6:25 pm

  Please be aware that when buying the Silverado Truck that the spare tire is only 17 inch. So if you buy a truck with 20 inches tires the spare is still only 17. The dealer will tell you that it is a full spare but it is not the same size as what is on the truck. Even the trucks with 18 inch tires come with a 17 inch spare.

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  Fair - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Dan R Brown - February 28 - 6:26 pm

  Turning in tight spots needs some attention. The mileage is not what as advertise. The mileage was my biggest disappointment. Other than those 2 items, I really like the Equinox and its roominess for riding. I did not get all the options, but a fair share, I like the options I do have.

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  satisfied customer - 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Danno - February 28 - 10:00 am

  I have a 7 yr, 5 yr, 7 month year old and my wife has a baby on the way. I had some GM card rebate so I looked at every GM car that sat 6+ passengers. I have always had trucks so wanted a bed if possible. I didnt even look at the Avalanche at first because I always thought it was ugly and didnt even consider it. I looked at TrailBlazer, 4 door Silverado, Venture, and Tahoe. Luckily my rep convinced me to look at it....loved it and never looked back. For you parents out there.....what sealed the deal was the airbag sensor in the front seats - 4 door trucks like Silverado dont have it - so its safe for kids in the front seat of the Avalanche.

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  Perfect - 2003 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Heeroyuy0195 - February 28 - 10:00 am

  I first saw this car and almost died of a heart attack! this thing was so good I the first thing I said about it was I want a test drive. I drag race all across the country and the only things I had to the car was a drag transmission and a parachute!

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  2002 LT autoride LEMON - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Ann - February 28 - 10:00 am

  Defect in the steering column in the 2002 LT Autoride Tahoe. 33k miles ,3rd steering column replaced in 18 mths. Ist one replaced less than 3k miles. Sunroof replaced 2x because it comes off the track. Ceiling rattles and continually loosens up and has to be tightened. Window motors (front) burned out at 3800 miles. The running board came off at about 2k miles. The back door comes out of alignment. Electrical shortage. My neighbor has the same electrical shortage in his 2002 Suburban. I am getting into a foreign vehicle VERY SOON. This was my first and LAST american made vehicle.